Crafting a Vision for IT (Monday, August 21, 2006) What is the purpose of a vision statement for IT? This article examines how a vision can accelerate the business value generated by an IT Organization.
IT Strategy: IT Cannot be a Profit Center (Friday, September 08, 2006) IT Strategy: Of late, there is a lot of emphasis on IT ROI. While this is commendable, extending this argument to convert the IT Organization into a profit center is taking it to another extreme. For example, are HR, finance, and marketing profit centers? Why not?
Capturing Hidden Value - Eight Principles for Optimizing Business Processes (Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500) Companies can save up to 50 percent of their cost base by strategically transforming their processes, according to this report by Booz Allen Hamilton. By distilling its findings into eight principles, including how to focus on the right value levers and organize for sustainability, Booz Allen has created a blueprint to help companies to plan, execute, and--most important--realize value from their process improvement efforts.
IT Value Mapping (Friday, September 08, 2006) Why do some IT organizations create unprecedented shareholder value, while others earn the contempt of their business leaders? It is no secret that aligning IT with business improves IT ROI, what is often in doubt is how to make it happen. Can you say with certainty that your IT is aligned with business? Can you prove it? If improving IT ROI is an imperative for you, read on. This paper will show you how to improve ROI by 10% or more…and
IT Strategy Framework (Monday, September 25, 2006) IT Strategy requires a process and a framework. The former provides the steps and the latter the toolkit. Together they help an organization get to an IT Strategy that maximizes IT ROI. This article addresses the latter.
Driving the Full Business Value of Mergers and Acquisitions through Better IT Due Diligence (Friday, October 06, 2006) Due diligence activities usually are focused primarily on business and financial issues. Thus, many organizations fail to look closely enough at the information technology aspects of the deal. As a consequence, companies may put large proportions of targeted value at risk.
Value Discovery: A Better Way to Prioritize IT Investments (Friday, October 06, 2006) The current debate over IT spending often misses the point. It’s not how much you spend, it’s the way you manage your IT spending that counts. The goal is not reduced spending but selective, value-creating spending that makes a greater contribution to the bottom line.
CIO or IT Product Manager? (Tuesday, October 10, 2006) Is it about time to change the CIO title? Is it about time the role got redefined?
What is IT Strategy? (Saturday, October 14, 2006) There are many definitions of IT Strategy. Which one is true?
Help! We are being treated as a cost center! (Wednesday, October 18, 2006) Let’s face it. An IT organization that has to justify its budget as a “cost center” has lost the respect of the business community somewhere along the line.
Talk to Me: The Disconnect Between Business and IT (Monday, May 07, 2007) The disconnect between business and IT is often lamented. A lot is spoken and written about this chasm. Ostensibly, a lot is done to bridge it. Yet, most would agree the chasm still exists.
Why IT ROI doesn't matter? (Friday, November 03, 2006) Does IT ROI matter? Great many intelligent people are spending sleepless nights and countless dollars calculating IT ROI. The author argues that they are wasting their time and shareholder dollars!
Putting IT Strategy in Context (Wednesday, November 08, 2006) Often, the emphasis is on creating an IT Strategy. Before you do, understand the context of IT Strategy i.e. what is its role and scope.
The Politics of Major IT Projects (Friday, November 10, 2006) Why do big IT Projects fail? There are many reasons. Mismanagement, new technology and immature IT Organization are amongst them. However, the most frequent reason for large project failure is organizational dynamics or politics.
Enterprise Information Systems Strategy and Planning (Thursday, November 16, 2006) Porter (2001)’s proposition of the evolution of technologies in business emphasizes the need for
information systems strategies to enable the real-time optimization of the value chain. It is echoed throughout the
literature that information technology strategies need to be aligned with business strategies. This paper proposes a
framework for the development of information systems strategies and plans driven by business objectives and
strategies. It provides an integrated framework for the development of technology architectures and business
processes across the value chain. A systematic approach to enterprise information system planning is presented.
7 Steps to Business and IT Alignment (Monday, November 20, 2006) No business will ever reach the goal of “business and IT alignment”. Should this discourage you from pursuing business and IT alignment? NO! It is a worthy goal to pursue. Indeed, it is a critical one to pursue. You might never reach alignment but you can take steps to get ever closer. This requires a process. Often, we ignore the fact that business and IT alignment is a process. This process does not have a starting point nor does it have an end. It is a series of “learn and do” cycles that incrementally get towards alignment. Let me explain.
Get Naked says Don Tapscott (Monday, December 04, 2006) Every firm should have a nudity strategy, says Don Tapscott.
Realizing the Power of Innovation Webs (Monday, December 04, 2006) Once agian, Don Tapscott talks about the imperative of collaboration. This time, it is with Optimize Magazine
Bridging the Strategy-Execution Gap (Monday, December 04, 2006) Great Strategy + Lousy Execution = failure. No exceptions to this rule. Don Tapscott argues that one can have them both. If only they tried.
Next Stop, CEO? (Saturday, December 09, 2006) Are CIO careers terminal? Not many - I could not find one - CIOs have made it to CEO. Why not?
IT Strategist's Dilemma (Saturday, December 09, 2006) Every strategist faces the "stay the course" or "cut and run" choice, at least once in their careers. How do you decide which course is the correct one? More, importantly, is this even a correct or complete set of choices?
IT Strategy Template (Friday, January 12, 2007) Enclosed is a simple template to create an IT Strategy for your organization. This is intended to be the starting point not a definitive or exhaustive workbook on creating an IT Strategy.
Happy Together? (Wednesday, January 31, 2007) What three things must coexist to ensure IT Value? Read on to find the answer!
Start smart. Your first step could make your journey! (Monday, February 05, 2007) More often than not, "first impressions" make all the difference. Your opportunity to make this critical "first impression" on an IT Strategy project is with the "kick off" communication. Are you hitting it spot on? Or, are you busily creating a disaster for yourself and your organization?
101 Dumbest Moments in Business (Tuesday, February 06, 2007) Can we learn from other people's mistakes? Not sure, but we can certainly laught at them!
Giving "teeth" to the Building Permit Process (Thursday, February 08, 2007) The building permit process is critical to the success of an Enterprise Architecture. Often, this process fails and with it the Enterprise Architecture. The article highlights the 7 common mistakes that lead to the failure of this process and suggests ways to avoid them.
Part II: Start smart. Your first step could make your journey! (Monday, February 12, 2007) Last week we looked at the importance of the IT Strategy "kick off" communication and the 5 questions it must address. This week, we will discuss each of the 5 questions and how to answer them for success!
Part III: Start smart. Your First Step Could Make Your Journey! (Monday, February 19, 2007) Previously, we discussed the importance of the "kick off" communication. We also talked about the steps to create a killer kick off letter. In this article, we will discuss how to avoid common pitfalls.
7 Signs of Trouble in Paradise (Monday, February 26, 2007) Ever wonder what happens when business and IT are not aligned? Well, like most other things in life, there are symptoms of misalignment. Monitoring them and analyzing them can help you avert disaster.
Creating a Winning Project Charter (Monday, March 05, 2007) A project's charter is its anchor. It provides returns exponentially greater than the time and effort spent creating it.
Buzzword: Business Model (Monday, March 12, 2007) "Business model" has to be the king of buzzwords. "Strategy" is not far behind but there is something about business models that makes it more powerful! This article tries to demystify the term.
Buzzword: IT Capability (Monday, March 19, 2007) What is IT Capability? If you want to understand why some IT organizations create more value than others, it is imperative to understand this buzzword.
What's Missing From Outsourcing (Monday, March 19, 2007) The outsourcing bandwagon has gone through an interesting journey. Along the way, many have jumped on. Before you do, think!
People, Not SLAs, to Blame For Outsourcing Woes (Monday, March 19, 2007) Why do some outsourcing deals create value and others not? The answer lies in process integration. That in turn depends on people No way around it!
It's the Business Model, Stupid! (Monday, March 26, 2007) When talking about business and IT alignment, our focus always goes to business strategy and its alignment with IT strategy. This thought process recognizes a fundamental truth. Unfortunately, it only gets part of the picture.
A Framework For IT Value (Monday, April 02, 2007) In this series, we will discuss IT Value - from its definition to a framework to measure and track it
Part II: A Framework for IT Value (Monday, April 09, 2007) Last week, we lay the foundation for a discussion on IT Value. This week, we look at specific areas where IT creates value.
Part III: A Framework for IT Value (Monday, April 23, 2007) Last week, we focused on revenues. This week, we look at the costs in the IT value equation.
Part IV: A Framework For IT Value (Monday, April 30, 2007) Last week, we discussed the cost dimension of IT Value. This week, we will discuss the time to market dimension.
Rethinking measurement: More than evaluating performance (Monday, June 25, 2007) Management should focus on using measurement frameworks that show the hypothesized relationships between desired outcomes and the drivers (or leading indicators) of those outcomes; what's more, developing the right measures and using measurement data must be iterative and highly interactive.
An Emerging IT Ecosystem (Monday, May 07, 2007) Today, IT products and services are delivered to the customer for them to assemble and deploy. Is this paradigm shifting?
Talk to Me: The Disconnect Between Business and IT (Tuesday, May 08, 2007) The disconnect between business and IT is often lamented. A lot is spoken and written about this chasm. Ostensibly, a lot is done to bridge it. Yet, most would agree the chasm still exists.
What the Board Needs to Know About IT: Phase II (Monday, May 14, 2007) How are the boards of directors approaching IT? This report provides invaluable insight into their thinking and makes recommendations on improving performance through IT.
Part V: A Framework for IT Value (Monday, May 14, 2007) Last week, we discussed the time to market dimension of IT Value. This week, we will discuss the quality dimension.
Focus on Customer Service (Monday, May 14, 2007) Is it time to relearn the no.1 rule of business? Some airline companies seem to have gone back to school. Unfortunately, this was an expensive education because their customers took them there!
Part VI: A Framework for IT Value (Tuesday, May 29, 2007) Last week, we focused on quality and its impact on IT Value. This week, we will take a look at productivity and its impact on IT Value
Part VII: A Framework for IT Value (Monday, June 04, 2007) Last week, we focused on productivity and its impact on IT Value. This week, we will take a look at customer satisfaction and its impact on IT Value
Seeing Eye To Eye On IT (Wednesday, June 06, 2007) A discussion on Forrester's research on the business and IT disconnect. So what's new?
Kiss and Make Up (Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500) Industrial manufacturers often have strained relationships with their IT organizations because manufacturers demand better IT support while simultaneously targeting IT for not cutting costs. Some companies have successfully emerged from this predicament using a lean, best practice model which we call "the 1 percent IT organization." This means IT has a cost structure approaching 1 percent of revenue. An IT organization that can transform its operating model to act as both cost center and strategic enabler will be poised to manage both the cyclicality of the present and the growth needs of the future.
Lessons From The Outsourcing Wave (Wednesday, June 27, 2007) Deloitte' report on global offshoring has some valuable lessons for companies. Read the report
Is Your Company World Class in IT? (Monday, July 09, 2007) Metrics make us feel secure because of the implicit promise of control. However, metrics are as meaningful as the spin surrounding them!
Measuring IT Value Using Intel's Business Value Index (Friday, August 17, 2007) Want to measure the value of IT? Intel has proposed a solution based upon its "Business Value Index." Attached is an introduction to the methodology
Ensuring Merger Success with a Pre-Merger IT Diagnostic (Tuesday, August 21, 2007) Post merger integration used to be the buzz word and imperative for merger success. This whitepaper helps focus on the "golden window" of oppoertunity. Surprise - it lies before the merger!
Exploring initiatives for innovation (Thursday, October 04, 2007) Insurers have for years mistaken optimization for innovation, but true innovation requires a willingness to try something different to address persistent operational challenges.
The Ultimate Proof of IT Value (Friday, October 19, 2007) A study proves the bottom line impact of IT investments. Case closed? Hardly!
Bridging the Business and IT Gap (Monday, November 05, 2007) Can the business and IT Gap be bridged easily? Here are some best practices
In Search of Innovation (Tuesday, November 13, 2007) Bringing innovation to your organization isn't easy. Need tips? Read On!
"SOLACE" in IT Strategy (Monday, January 07, 2008) IT Strategy is nothing without its implementation. How can CIOs get some "SOLACE" from their IT Strategy? Read on!
Enabling the Strategy Focused Organization (Monday, January 14, 2008) Is IT Value compromised because of the strained relationship between business and IT? How can the CIO overcome this challenge?
A Framework for IT Investment Management (Monday, January 21, 2008) A framework for IT Investment Management - also covers the process and maturity model. Must Read!
IT Powered Growth (Monday, January 21, 2008) How to pull out of an information technology tailspin!
Business IT Alignment Maturity Model (Wednesday, January 30, 2008) Prof. Luftman has proposed a maturity model for Business IT Alignment. Does that model cover the entire value chain? The author proposes a model that plugs this hole
Strategy: Kill Google (Sunday, February 03, 2008) Kill Bill's sequel is out. In this fast paced thriller Microsoft goes after Google. Will Google survive?
Mission Impossible: Demonstrating the Value of IT (Monday, February 25, 2008) CIOs are caught in a vicious circle of "cost cutting" begetting more cost cutting expectation! How can you get out front and demonstrate IT's value?
Spending Smarter: Rebalancing IT Budget (Monday, February 25, 2008) How can a CIO create value when most of the budget is spent "keeping the lights on"? Is there a way out of this dilemma? Read On...
Post Merger Integration: The Hidden IT Multiplier in Mergers (Monday, March 03, 2008) "More than half of all acquisitions actually destroy shareholder
value, according to independent research, and integration efforts that fall short of the mark are often to blame!
Measuring Information Productivity (Monday, March 03, 2008) Excellent paper on IT value measurement. This framework powered Baseline's 500. Very informative.
CIO Survey: Does IT Strategy Matter? (Monday, March 10, 2008) A survey of senior IT Executives on the value of IT Alignment. And the survey says...
IT Strategy For Business Value (Monday, March 10, 2008) The paper presents a framework for developing an IT Strategy for business value.
Demystifying Project Portfolio Management (PPM) (Monday, March 24, 2008) Project Portfolio Management is a critical concept and tool for IT Managers. Have you cut through the hype so you can use this tool?
Cracking the IT Value Code (Monday, March 24, 2008) Does IT Spending Matter? The answer is an emphatic no. Then what does? Read on...
Understanding the Value of IT (Monday, March 24, 2008) Understanding the IT Value equation is critical to making IT Decisions. This article provides guidance using the education industry.
Are CIOs in Denial? (Monday, April 21, 2008) How can CIOs respond to this uncertain economy? Here is a 10 part recipe...
Measuring IT Success at the Bottom Line (Monday, May 05, 2008) IT business value (ITBV) program provides a customer-focused, data-driven IT investment decision making process and framework for measuring and evaluating IT products, services, and support in terms that reflect business benefits. Read On...
A Primer on IT Business Case Development (Monday, May 12, 2008) This primer provides tools, concepts and a framework for addressing a number of critical challenges facing enterprise information technology (IT) organizations.
Managing IT For Value (Monday, May 12, 2008) "We conclude that no existing method is suitable for assessing the business value created by IT assets." Read On...
Managing for Shareholder Value in difficult times (Monday, June 02, 2008) Is there "managing" to anything else? Read this excellent discussion on how everything in an enterprise should be managed.
Getting Real About Customer Lifetime Value (Monday, June 16, 2008) Managing for customer lifetime value is a wonderful ambition but remains a pipe dream for most companies.
Customer Lifetime Value Toolkit (Monday, June 16, 2008) What is the lifetime value of a "customer"? Use this simple but powerful toolkit to get an answer.
Beyond EVA (Monday, June 23, 2008) A good discussion on EVA and how to plug its shortcomings.
Cost Justification Using EVA (Monday, June 23, 2008) IT Spending often comes as capital expenditure. Do you want to use EVA to make a business case for IT Spending? Read On...
Business Value of CMM (Tuesday, July 01, 2008) Ever wonder what all the time and money spent getting up the CMM maturity curve get you? Wonder no more!
CMM Business Value Case Study (Tuesday, July 01, 2008) This case study uses Six Sigma to assess the value of CMM. Good discussion.
New Initiatives Spending Is a Key Measure of Efficiency (Monday, July 07, 2008) How much do you spend on plugging leaks in your ship and how much on innovation? This metric is staring you in the face to tell you how effective your leadership of IT is. Pay attention!
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